Ray Matsen

Screenwriter and Content Creator

Melbourne, Australia

About Ray

Ray Matsen is an Australian comedy writer and content creator with over 20 years experience in TV, radio, online, film, print and the stage.

He has written for award winning Australian comedy duo Hamish & Andy on their original Seven Network sketch show, their Network 10 series 'Real Stories' and for series 1 and now 2 of their current hit show 'True Story' on the Nine Network.

Ray was a writer for the much loved ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) music quiz show 'Spicks & Specks' and Head Writer and Animation Director on the ABC3 kid's sketch series 'You’re Skitting Me' series 1, 2 & 3. YSM series 1 was nominated for a Logie award for most outstanding children’s program and 2 was nominated for an AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) for best children’s television series. Ray also wrote for the ABC comedy series Problems, with Sam Simmons, as well as many Australian TV sketch shows.

He spent two seasons as Head Writer on the Adam Hills talk show 'Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight', four years as Head Writer on the Network 10 talk & comedy show 'Rove' and was a sketch writer and presenter on Nova 100FM for the ever popular Hughesy & Kate. He has also created the online satirical blog called Channel 2Trillion.

His many years on stage as a stand-up comic and sketch performer include six Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows. In 2001 he co-wrote and performed in Brian Munich & Friends, which won the 2001 Age Newspaper’s Critic's Award and the 2001 Barry Award for best show of the festival.

In addition to his writing work, Ray also lectures on the subject of comedy writing. He has taught at The Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney, The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Melbourne University.

Most recently he has worked on the second series of 'When TV Was Awesome', for ABC iView, the ABC's new medical series 'Ask the Doctor' and is currently writing on a new narrative kid's series being produced by animation company The Chocolate Liberation Front.

Ray lives in Melbourne with his wife, two daughters and a very angry cat.

Unique traits: Ray is also an animator with a pretty good understanding of Toon Boom Harmony, which he used to create cartoons for the ABC kids series 'You're Skitting Me'.
See 'animation' in the links menu.

Gender:
Male

Links

Credits

True Story with Hamish & Andy(2017)Television
(Comedy)
WriterHamish & Andy sit down with everyday Australians who recount hilarious true stories that happened to them, with the events in the stories being recreated by Australian actors in filmed dramatisations.

Ask the Doctor(2017)Television
(Documentary)
WriterAsk the Doctor addresses the latest in medical treatments and the future of health care as we know it. From how to treat the common cold to the future of genetics, our medical experts deliver the latest advice to help us live healthy lives.

True Story with Hamish & Andy(2016 - 2017)Television
by Radio KarateWriterHamish & Andy sit down with everyday Australians to hear their hilarious true stories, while Australia’s favourite actors and comedians bring their stories to life.

You're Skitting Me(2012 - 2016)Television
(Comedy)
WriterA group of school kids create a funny skit show for people's amusement. They try to only to use kids on the show as to relate to younger viewers however they do use a couple of adults in a few of their skits.

Open Slather(2015)Television
(Comedy)
WriterAn Australian sketch show full of crazy and hilarious short stories.

WAC! The World Animal Championships(2013)Television
(Family)
WriterWAC is animals battling it out for wildlife supremacy in the WAC-Arena. Covering many unique categories we scour the land, oceans and skies to find ultimate animals in unique categories - Scariest, Grossest and even Most Romantic. These and more will be answered in this fact-packed comedy series for inquisitive children. Written by Tim McGahan

Problems(2012)Television
(Comedy)
WriterThe hilariously mundane day to day life of Sam Simmons and the characters that surround him.....including the moths in his couch.

Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight(2011 - 2012)Television
(Talk-Show)
Writerdam Hills returns to Gordon Street in a unique take on the traditional tonight show - with monologue, interviews and top musical acts, plus spontaneous and unpredictable interactions with the studio audience.

Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight (2011)TelevisionHead Writer

The Wedge(2007)Television
(Comedy)
WriterA sketch comedy series set in Wedgedale, a mythical suburban paradise full of disturbingly real characters who show a curious loyalty for the place they call home.

The Late Report(1999)Television
(Comedy)
WriterThis short-lived attempt to revive live comedy on Channel 7 was a combination of interviews, popular culture, trivia and topical current affairs with a light hearted bent. The program was equally hosted by all the those credited in the cast, although Richard Stubbs took a leading role. The program was initially the second half hour in an hour, and was preceded by a woefully bad 'The Big News'. Soon, however, 'The Big News' was axed and 'The Late Report' took over the entire hour. Written by Benjamin Sharp <absharp@hotmail.com>

Full Frontal(1997)Television
(Comedy, Fantasy and Sci-Fi)
WriterThe series began screening shortly after the similar sketch comedy program Fast Forward (from which Full Frontal derived) ended. Full Frontal retained the same general format of Fast Forward. It was formatted in a way such as to create the effect of someone continuously channel surfing; after the punchline of each sketch, it would abruptly switch to the next as if the viewer had switched channels. Written by zzzorf

Spicks and SpecksTelevision
(Comedy and Game-Show)
WriterAdam Hills hosts this lighthearted music quiz show.The two teams are captained by Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough.

Rove LiveTelevision
(Comedy and Talk-Show)
WriterThis was a variety, talk show that featured an ensemble cast, who presented various segments throughout the course of the show.